Celebrating Kirtland
Historic Site Rises Again

An Exclusive Photographic Essay
Photography by Scot Facer Proctor
Essay by Maurine Jensen Proctor
All Photographs Copyright 2003 Scot Facer Proctor
(Use of any photographs herein only by written permission of Meridian Magazine)

click on photos to enlarge

Part 4

Newel K. Whitney Store and Home

The Newel K. Whitney Store, truly the centerpiece of the old Kirtland village, was the headquarters of the Church for over two years.

On a wintry day, the first part of February 1831, Joseph and six-months pregnant Emma arrived in Kirtland in front of the Gilbert and Whitney Store. The junior partner of the establishment, Newel Kimball Whitney, and his wife, Elizabeth Ann, had recently joined the Church. Joseph sprang from the sleigh and walked into the store. With hand outstretched to the man at the counter, he said, “Newel K. Whitney! Thou art the man!” This meant, “I know you; you are Newel K. Whitney.”

Porch of the Newel K. Whitney Store is very similar to how it would have looked in the early 1830’s.

The surprised thirty-seven-year-old merchant said, “You have the advantage of me. I could not call you by name as you have me.” “I am Joseph the Prophet. You’ve prayed me here, now what do you want of me?” The Prophet, while yet in New York, had seen in vision Newel and Elizabeth praying for him to come to Kirtland.

Restored Newel K. and Elizabeth Ann Whitney home is a significant site in Church History. The Prophet Joseph and his wife Emma would stay here for the first few weeks of their time in Kirtland.

Joseph’s first few weeks in Kirtland were spent in the Whitney home and later from September of 1832 until early 1834 he lived in the upstairs of the Whitney store.

Porch of the Newel K. and Elizabeth Ann Whitney home is warm and inviting.

The Whitney Store was located at the crossroads of two busy roads where wagons, coaches, carriages and riders passed through regularly. It was a vibrant business, the center of activity at Kirtland, and while Joseph was there, it was the center of the Church.
Seventeen revelations were received at the Whitney Store and it was the first location of the School of the Prophets.

Beautiful interior of the Newel K. and Elizabeth Ann Whitney home. In this very home the Law of the Church was given to the Prophet Joseph (Section 42) on February 9, 1831.

Karl Ricks Anderson said, “This effort has not been about buildings. It has been about recreating or restoring holy places where people could go, and understand their heritage, and relate to it by standing on the spot. You can never appreciate the holy land without standing on the ground there. You can drive by your ancestor’s property but you have to get out and get mud on your feet before its meaning sinks into you.”

Watch Meridian during the next few days as we take you to the events that transpired this past weekend in Kirtland and the places and people that are so significant there.

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